Communications Director
Location: US, NY, Albany
Employment type: Full-time
Required experience: Director
Required education: Bachelor's Degree

Company profile:
The Albany Charter School Network is a family of charter schools in the City of Albany that works to prepare children for meaningful future lives – as purposeful, productive, and participatory citizens of New York, the United States, and the world.Our strong and unified movement of charter schools collaborates with parents to provide for all students a vibrant academic environment and dynamic learning experiences that create what we call “Future Life Opportunity” – a pathway to success in college, career, and community life.The Albany Charter School Network and the schools that comprise our community are always looking for highly committed and highly skilled people to come and join us in the exciting and meaningful work of helping create Future Life Opportunity for this generation of students.Please take the time to look at the various open positions on our site. If there is a role for which you think you would be a great match, then we encourage you to learn more about it and submit an application.

Job description:
POSITION SUMMARYThe Communications Director is primarily responsible for developing the Network’s brand and communications strategy to support its broader strategic direction and positioning. The Communications Director will set and guide the strategy for all communications and public relations messaging and consistently articulate the mission of the Albany Charter School Network. The Communications Director will help schools message the mission, and manifest the message so that students across the Network can show up and do well, both in learning and in life. ABOUT THE NETWORKThe Albany Charter School Network (the “Network”) is a member-based, network of charter schools in the City of Albany that is focused on choice, quality, reliability and growth. Choice: Providing a variety of K-12 educational options that meet the needs and promote engagement in the learning process for all Capital Region families.Quality: Delivering excellent teaching and learning, and general school operations, through superior execution of research-based practices.Reliability: Achieving high levels of student performance with low variability in academic and operational delivery within and between schools.Growth: Ensuring personal, academic, and professional growth for the Network community stakeholders and the Albany area as a whole. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION DETAILSDevelop the Network’s brand and communications strategies under the guidance of the Chief Executive Officer.Manage brand and communications activities that promote, enhance, and protect the Network’s brand reputation.Identify key partners and influence brokers within the brand and communications constituent communities and leverage influence to build a sustainable support base for the Network.Put communications vehicles in place to create momentum and awareness, as well as test the effectiveness of communication activities.Assist the Chief Executive Officer in mobilizing Network and school staff and Boards to serve key roles in support of brand and communications initiatives.Work with third party brand and communications representatives/consultants to create school-related multimedia campaigns for parents, staff, students, and other stakeholders, ensuring accurate, accessible, and timely communication.Track local and national press to examine charter school analysis and trends, assessing the extent to which the Network and its schools are receiving representative, appropriate, and competitive coverage, relative to other public and private school counterparts.Review Network and school brand and communications documents, strategic plans, policies, procedures, systems, and activities to evaluate alignment and continuity.Provide professional development and feedback to Network and school leaders, Boards, and staff on how to communicate, engage, and interact with parents, staff, students, community, media, and other stakeholders.Maintain primary responsibility for Network and school-level varied and integrated brand and communications products and services including: newsletters and other print publications; web, e-news and other online communications; media and communications; and marketing.Serve as an ambassador for the Network, and its schools, and manage relationships with the press and relevant school stakeholders, to drive broader awareness and support for the organization.

Requirements:
QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s Degree required in Communications or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).At least 5 years progressive work experience in a communications setting.Experience in an entrepreneurial, growing nonprofit, public, or business organization.K-12 education and/or direct teaching experience a plus.Experience developing and implementing communications strategies.Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills.Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters.Self-starter, able to work independently or collaboratively. 

Benefits: